Enugu paralysed as commercial buses, taxis, withdraw services over extortionThere was disruption of activities in Enugu state on Monday, February 26 as commercial bus and taxi drivers withdrew their services from the roads to protest against alleged extortion, harassment and arrests they go through.
- Enugu state experienced a disruption of activities on Monday, February 26 as commercial bus and taxi drivers withdrew their services from the roads
- The drivers took the decision to protest against alleged extortion, harassment and arrests by the officials of the ministry of transport and the police
- The state commissioner of police, Danmallam Muhammed, appealed to the drivers to resume work
There was disruption of activities in Enugu state on Monday, February 26 as commercial bus and taxi drivers withdrew their services from the roads to protest against alleged extortion, harassment and arrests by officials of the ministry of transport and the police.
Trouble started when officials of the ministry of transport allegedly beat up a bus driver over some disagreement, The Guardian reports.
NAIJ.com gathered that some people claimed that the uniform officials demanded money from the commercial bus driver, while others said he was manhandled for breaching road regulations.
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It was learnt that the development angered the leadership of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and members were directed to withdraw their services from the roads till further notice.
This consequently led to interruption of movement as residents were stranded at bus stops, while those who could not afford the fares charged tricycle operators walked to their destinations.
The state commissioner of police, Danmallam Muhammed, summoned an emergency meeting of the leadership of the NURTW and officials of the ministry of transport led by the commissioner, Vitus Okechi, where he asked both parties to settle the issue.
He appealed to the drivers to return to work and stated that he had set up a task force to monitor policemen on stop and search and those on patrol over allegations that they extort the drivers.
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Meanwhile, NAIJ.com previously reported that the Lagos state governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, on Tuesday, January 23, threatened to ban the activities of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in the state if the union's leaders failed to stop the violent activities of their members.
At the end of the security council meeting in Lagos, the state government ordered the immediate suspension of all NURTW activities in Lagos Island following the crisis rocking that chapter of the union.
According to the state commissioner of police, Imohimi Edgal, the decision was to forestall any further breakdown of law and order and ensure that the peace in the area was not hampered.
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Source: Naija.ng
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Enugu paralysed as commercial buses, taxis, withdraw services over extortion